If you’re having a problem getting into the dress you wanted to wear to a holiday event or New Year’s Party, the miracle man at Boutique Anne Marie has a miracle corset that can take you in one or two sizes. It has good back support too. What more could you want? The rest of the store is filled with a large selection of girdles, bodysuits, and bras in sizes 32A to 50G (mastectomy bras too, with a 20% discount). They’re lucky to still have a woman here who can make bras or girdles to measure, or she can adjust ready made ones too.
Location: 7002 St-Hubert
Phone: 514-273-5503
Hours: Mon-Wed & Sat 10-5, Thurs & Fri 10-7, Sun 12-5

As usual, I’ve gathered together some interesting ideas for gifts for the holidays and will be showing and talking about them on television and radio. On Monday December 17th, look for me on CTV News with Todd Van Der Hayden at around 12:35 p.m. or a few minutes after.
On Wednesday, December 19th, I’ll be shooting the breeze for an hour with Tommy Schnurmacher on CJAD 800 AM , from 10 am – 11 am about last minute gift ideas. You can call in to that show 514-790-0991. If you miss them, you can find everything I talked about in my column on this site.

Boutique Jacques is a family owned and run mens’ shop where you get great service (even a tailor on the premises!) and discounted prices on better mens’ clothing. Right now, with good timing for any holiday parties coming up, they are offering a special of $199. for suits by Michael Kors, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. And if you are freezing in this weather they still have some down coats for $99. If you need a tuxedo for New Year’s Eve, they have them too. www.execstyle.com

Name: Boutique Jacques
Address: 5970 Cote-des-Neiges at the corner of LintonStore hours: Mon-Wed 9 am-6 pm, Thurs 9 am-8 pm, Fri 9 am-3 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm

We were walking to our favorite restaurant in Chinatown (Maison VIP) on Clark St. As we walked south on Clark, from Rene Levesque Blvd, we noticed on sign in the window of a store on the east side of the street. The sign said “Haircuts $5. My husband, the guinea pig, finished his delicious meal, then ran up the street for a cut.

A Chinese woman, in a teensy shop with one chair and a sink area, who spoke very little English (short, long, $5), gave him a pretty decent haircut for that $5. He got some compliments on it today.

Those of you who remember the Paris Star sales will remember the names Como and Fred Davis. I have just found out that Como Diffusion will be having a female blouse and sweater sale coming up. This is a new one for me. Let me know if anyone goes there and if there is any similarity to the good old days. www.freddavis.com

Name: Como Fred Davis
Location: 5375 Cote de Liesse, Ville St. Laurent (near the Decarie circle)
Dates and times: Friday December 14th 8 am-8 pm, Saturday December 15th 9 am-4 pm,

For lovely inexpensive, up to 70% off chocolate gifts (even for yourself!), sneak over to Splendid Club Chocolate’s outlet on the main floor of this building for factory direct chocolate (even Kosher). The bargains on caramels, lollipops, pretty baskets from $5-$100, boxed ballotin, assorted boxes and chocolate hollow and solid novelties (Santas, bunnies, teddies) are worth the detour. Corporate gifts are available by appointment. Do I dare tell you there are free samples?

Location: 4810 Jean Talon St West, Suite 100 at the corner of Victoria Ave.
Phone: 514-737-1105
Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m to 4 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Just in time to spruce up the house for the holidays, this bedding manufacturer is opening to the public for its monthly sale. Prices are always amazing here. This time you can scoop up bath towels 2/$1.50, a 3-piece bath rug set for $16, comforters start at $10, different comforter sets run $30, $40, $50 or $65, twin mattress protectors are 2/$25, a standard pillow is $7, queen $8, king $10, throw pillows are $3, rugs $18, twin sheets $10 (also have queen, king sets), tablecloths $4, 3 window valences or curtains are only $5, etc.

Location: 120 Louvain West at the corner of Chabanel
Dates and times: Friday December 7th 11 am – 6 pm, Saturday December 8th 6:30 am -12 pm

This Saturday December 8th from 12:30 pm – 1 pm you can catch me (and my husband Stan Posner) on CINQ-FM Radio Centre-Ville at 102.3 FM on your dial. The show is called Centreville Consumer hosted by Beta Wayne and we will be talking about our newest edition of “Drive I-95: Exit by Exit Info, Maps, History and Trivia”. If you are planning any trip down the US East Coast, this book tells you what you can expect on every exit as well as how to have fun on the drive.

On Sunday December 9th from 1:15 pm – 2 pm, I will be chatting with Lisa Fuoco on CJAD 800 AM on her Lifestyles show. I will be sharing my ideas on how to de-stress the Christmas shopping experience. If there is time at the end, she will open up the phones for you to call in and ask questions.

If you just must have a Claxton fruitcake for the holidays, there is a way to buy them and give money to charity at the same time. The Lakeshore Civitan club is selling them at $5 per pound. Proceeds will be donated to many West Island organizations. Phone: 514-626-6431 and the nice woman will let you know where you can get a cake – there are at least a dozen places on the West Island for pick-ups.

Morsam Fashions was established here in 1917 and sells under the label of Jasmine Rose across Canada and the USA. A couple of times a year, they allow us up to buy sleepwear and robes (velour for men and some for women) for $10 to $20 Once you fancy yourself all cozied up in them, you can buy a goose down duvet from $60 to $120 to cover yourself in bed.

Location: 350 Louvain ouest, suite 101 (look for the duvet sign)
Phone: 514-383-0033 X 303
Dates: Thursday December 6th 9 am – 6 pm, Friday December 7th 9 am – 6 pm, Saturday December 8th 8 am – 3 pm